Editor's note: San Francisco Unified School District superintendent Arlene Ackerman asked for space to respond to some recent Bay Guardian articles and editorials, and because of the importance of the issues – and the remarkable tone of her response – we're running her entire statement here.

IT IS NO secret that leaders of the San Francisco Unified School District have had a hard time getting along lately. During the past several years, Board of Education members have engaged in well-publicized disagreements with each other and in some cases with me. Over time, a pattern has emerged, with one group generally supporting my policy recommendations and the other generally opposing them.

I deeply respect people's right to form their own opinions about leadership in the SFUSD, and I know that not everyone sees things as I do. I share the Bay Guardian's purported desire for better collaboration among the board members and between them and me. Unfortunately, the editorial ("Ackerman's Future") and article ("Reform School") that appeared in its Jan. 19 edition contained a biased, poorly researched, grossly inaccurate, and personally vindictive account of these matters that only undermines our collective ability to do work together.

The Bay Guardian's tactics of making provocative yet baseless assertions are eerily similar to the swift boat veterans' toxic criticisms of John Kerry. In both cases, the claims were unsubstantiated, but the perception stuck. For example, the Bay Guardian continues to report that I have issued a "gag order" prohibiting staff from speaking with the media. I have not done so. The Bay Guardian accuses me of being "secretive" and "hostile to dissent" but offers no examples or evidence of these characterizations.

Meanwhile, the Bay Guardian depicts Board of Education president Eric Mar and his allies as unassailably reasonable, even magnanimous. Reporter Tali Woodward writes that they often praise me for my accomplishments and that they have never wanted to force me to leave. Only the most biased observer could make such staggeringly incorrect statements.

I have never claimed to be perfect, and my staff and I make missteps just like any other human beings. Several of our decisions should have been informed by more dialogue or accompanied by more effective communication with affected groups. Having said that, I know that our district is better off now than when I arrived five years ago.

I have established more than two dozen task forces through which stakeholders and community members holding different perspectives have offered valuable input on issues including budgetary allocations, programs for English-learner students, and county community schools – the very topics Woodward reports that Commissioners Mar and Sarah Lipson want community input on.

Focusing on the interpersonal dynamics between certain board members and me distracts attention away from the substantive differences that exist between their priorities and mine. It is true that Commissioners Mar, Sanchez, and Lipson and I often do not share the same views.

These board members have criticized me for not publicly opposing mandatory testing and for refusing to remove tens of thousands of students from classrooms to attend protests in Sacramento. In my view, while taking symbolic positions is their prerogative as elected officials, it is certainly not my priority as the district's instructional leader.

I agree with Commissioner Mar about the need for us to work together. I have always believed that people can disagree in a respectful way. We clearly have some work to do to rebuild the trust necessary to do so, but I honestly hope we get there for the benefit of all our students and families. Despite what the Bay Guardian may believe and print, I will certainly do my part.

Arlene Ackerman Superintendent, SFUSD

Tim Redmond and Tali Woodward respond: Wow. In the same issue Ackerman is so upset about, we wrote of the "tremendous reforms and positive changes she's made" and said that "in many ways, she's done an excellent job." We've always said that. We've also pointed out that, in the words of our editorial, "she's never taken well to criticism." Her response to us makes that point quite nicely.

Two factual issues:

School board members Eric Mar, Mark Sanchez, and Sarah Lipson, have, in fact, often complimented Ackerman. For instance, in an interview with our editorial board last fall, Mar told us, "I want to support her when she does good things – she's done many."

Numerous SFUSD staffers have told us, over many months, that they have been instructed not to speak to the news media. Ackerman has consistently denied this but has also acknowledged, in no uncertain terms, that she wants SFUSD staff to contact her office before interacting with any media representatives. She characterizes this as a "courtesy call." We call it a "gag order," since it has vast potential to restrict people from speaking candidly. We still believe that's an accurate description.